No. 5 Roanoke Takes NCAA Opener from Wittenberg

Salem, Va. -- Roanoke set a school-record in fewest goals allowed in an NCAA Tournament game in a 15-4 triumph over Wittenberg Wednesday evening. The Maroons, ranked fifth in the nation (USILA), will advance to the second round for the second consecutive season.

Roanoke (17-2) tied the 2009 team for the most wins and the best record in school-history. It was the first road win for the Maroons in the NCAA Tournament since the 2006 season, which they defeated Gettysburg, 13-12 in the national quarterfinals.

The Maroons, now 19-14 against NCAC teams all-time, bettered Wittenberg (10-5) in shots (65-21) and groundballs (48-25) while winning 13 of 22 face-offs and went 22 for 25 in clear attempts. They were 3 for 7 in extra man opportunities.

Pat March and Richard Lachlan got the Maroons on the board first with back-to-back goals to give them the early lead. Wittenberg's Matt Lord found an open Brady Christensen to cut Roanoke's lead in half, 2-1 with 9:39 remaining in the opening period.

Then Roanoke went on a tear, scoring seven unanswered goals over the next two quarters to give the Maroons a 9-1 cushion late in the third. Six different players netted goals during that span.

The Tigers closed to within eight, 12-4 with 4:42 remaining in the final period, but goals by Matt Quinton, Justin Tuma and Noah Gibby put the icing on the cake for the Maroons ninth-straight win.

March led all scorers with four points, including a goal and a season-high four assists. His eight groundballs on the night was a career-best, as he moved into sole possession of second all-time in career goals with 146. He tied current assistant coach and last year's All-American attackman, Zach Thomas for fourth on the career scoring list with 234 points.

Jeff Keating finished with three goals and one assist to put him one point from the 100-point club. Tuma had three goals, five groundballs and won 8 of 11 face-off attempts. Gibby and Lachlan added two goals apiece while Brian Foley had one goal and two assists.

Drew Manley collected a career-high eight groundballs, followed by Sam Love with five. Stephen Simmons had three on the night to move into sixth on the all-time list with 276.

Jake Dorsey finished with five saves in goal for the Maroons, collecting five groundballs. Wittenberg's Mark DeOliveira had 19.

The Maroons will take on Gettysburg on the road on Saturday, May 15. A time is yet to be determined.